Jeannette Hagerty
Elsa Jeannette Peeso Hagerty, 90, died Monday, Feb. 6, 2006, at the Libby Care Center, where she had been a resident for several months.
She was born on Aug. 29, 1915, in Butte, to Fredric and Lillian Peeso.
Jeannette was raised in Butte, attended school there and graduated from Butte High School. She began her higher education at the University of Montana in Missoula, where she played girls' basketball.
She met Bud Hagerty in Butte. He was working construction on a canal system for the Reclamation Department near Babb, just outside of Glacier National Park. Bud had sent her money for a train ticket from Missoula to Cut Bank, where they were married by a justice of the peace on Feb. 28, 1935.
Their first home was a small house they built on Swiftcurrent Creek on the road to Many Glacier. This house still exists, and their son has a photo taken of his parents in front of it around 2000. It has been relocated and pictures of its move to the present location in 1938-1939 are part of the family's history.
Ten years after their marriage, the Hagertys and their 9-month-old son moved to Libby. Jeannette was a full-time wife and mother who cared for her family. During the late 1960s, she worked for several years at Chapman's Variety Mart and was proud of earning "her own money," with which she purchased gifts for her family.
Besides her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, one of Jeannette's greatest enjoyments was being a charter member of the Organ Club of Libby. The club would entertain one day a week at different members' homes. They enjoyed lunches together and taking turns playing for each other. The club began in 1958 and celebrated its 20th anniversary with a dinner at the MK Steakhouse on May 28, 1978.
She enjoyed bowling and was on several championship teams, bowling for "Spencer's Phillips 66" team in the early 1960s.
The Hagertys were avid campers and loved to spend time in their travel trailer at many area campgrounds. Jeannette also cherished the years she and Bud traveled to Arizona, spending the winters there and making many new friends.
Jeannette was preceded in death by her husband Bud, her marriage partner of 70 years, on June 26, 2005. Others include her parents and two brothers, Harvey E. and Fred A. Peeso.
Survivors are her son, John "Bill" Hagerty and wife Leota of Libby, granddaughter Barbara Ford and husband Chris, and great-granddaughter Morgan of Aviano, Italy, grandson John III and wife Stacia, great-granddaughter Marisa of Coeur d' Alene, Idaho, nephew Fritz Peeso and wife Stephanie of Kalispell, and niece Marie Palmer and husband Dick of Cut Bank.
Graveside services were held Wednesday, Feb. 15, at the City of Libby Cemetery.